Road closure hits sales

18 January, 2008

Page 4

A North Hampshire baker is planning to seek compensation from Thames Water because the closure of the main road through his village is costing his business £400 a day.

Simon Smart, who runs the Bramley Village Bakery with his wife Tracey, said the road closure to install a new underground sewerage system had started in November and was due to last 10 weeks.He told British Baker: "It's been horrendous. They have shut off half the village, sending people on 15-mile diversions. We are not getting the passing trade and we reckon it's cut sales by 40%."The bakery normally sells between up to 500 Christmas cakes over the festive period, but sold only 120 this year. Sales of mince pies fell from 18,000 to 12,000.
Smart said he would seek compensation but had noted in the small print of the form that it would be "down to Thames Water's discretion".